BEIRUT − Lebanon and the militant organization Hezbollah have accepted a ceasefire proposal from the United States. A high-ranking Lebanese official informed Reuters on Monday that this represents the most significant attempt so far to bring an end to the ongoing conflict and Israeli airstrikes that have persisted for weeks.

On Monday, an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut resulted in the deaths of five individuals, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. This marks the second consecutive day that Israel has targeted locations within the capital as it intensifies its operations against Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.

In the densely populated Zuqaq al-Blat district, smoke was seen billowing from the site of the airstrike, which is in close proximity to the area where the Lebanese government operates. The health ministry reported two people were missing and an additional 31 were injured following the attack.

In recent days, Israel has escalated its air attacks in and around Beirut while Hezbollah has responded with missile barrages targeting Israel, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts led by the U.S. to end the hostilities.

A diplomat involved in the negotiations warned that several details remain to be finalized, which could delay reaching a conclusive agreement.

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein is anticipated to visit Beirut soon, a source from the U.S. told Reuters.

Since late September, Israel has made significant strides against Hezbollah, eliminating its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, conducting extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, and deploying troops into southern Lebanon.

Rocket alarms echoed across Tel Aviv and much of central Israel on Monday evening.

Falling debris from an intercepted missile struck a major roadway in a suburb of Tel Aviv, as reported by the Israeli military, which is currently conducting an investigation. The explosion resulted in injuries to six individuals, including a 54-year-old woman in serious condition, according to Israeli emergency services.

Hezbollah announced that it had launched drone strikes targeting “sensitive military locations” in Tel Aviv.

Earlier in the day, an Israeli woman lost her life due to a rocket hitting a building in Shfaram, located in northern Israel, as confirmed by the ambulance service. The military stated that around five projectiles were fired from Lebanon.

Since the escalation began in September, most of Israel’s air attacks in the Beirut region have been aimed at Hezbollah’s strongholds in the southern suburbs.

On Sunday, Israel conducted strikes within Beirut city limits for the first time in over five weeks, resulting in ten deaths in two separate attacks, one of which claimed the life of Hezbollah’s top media figure.

Israel initiated its military campaign following nearly a year of escalating tensions with Hezbollah. The objective is to diminish Hezbollah’s military capabilities and facilitate the return of tens of thousands of Israelis who had evacuated northern regions.

In support of its ally Hamas since the onset of the Gaza war over a year ago, Hezbollah has launched rockets at Israel. Israel’s military campaign has led to the displacement of over 1 million people in Lebanon in the past eight weeks.

International authorities assert that any ceasefire must adhere to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which concluded a 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. This resolution requires Hezbollah to relocate its weapons and fighters north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border.

Conditions for a Ceasefire

Hochstein, who has led several unsuccessful ceasefire negotiations in the past year, expressed optimism last week about the possibility of reaching an agreement.

Ali Hassan Khalil, an aide to Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, stated that Lebanon had submitted a written response regarding the ceasefire to the U.S. ambassador on Monday.

Hezbollah, which is heavily armed and supported by Iran, has nominated its longstanding ally Berri to handle ceasefire negotiations.

“All the observations we’ve made reaffirm strict adherence to (U.N.) Resolution 1701 and all its provisions,” Khalil mentioned.

The success of this initiative now relies on Israel, he added. If Israel is not seeking a resolution, “it could create numerous obstacles,” he warned.

Israel has not commented on Lebanon’s latest view regarding the ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Berri expressed cautiously optimistic sentiments regarding the negotiations but also urged against overly optimistic expectations, as noted by Labour Minister Mustafa Bayram after their discussion.

According to Lebanese officials, Israel’s military actions have resulted in the deaths of 3,481 individuals in Lebanon since the conflict started, with a significant number of casualties occurring after late September. These statistics do not differentiate between military personnel and civilians.

On the other side, Hezbollah’s attacks have claimed the lives of 43 civilians in northern Israel and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Additionally, Israeli reports indicate that 73 soldiers have died due to attacks in these areas and during operations in southern Lebanon.